Flying-machine.



c. v. BCKUS. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLUlcATIoN FILED Diga. 1913. I f 1,167,874,v v I Pafontedv Jan. 1,1, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I

Q .y i. R

`c. II. BACKUS.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1913.

@ggf/ra' ,l v 33,13; i l H-oznm repaired or replaced,

'ters ofv pressure acting described which UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

cLYDE V. BAoKUs,

OF JEFFERSON, OHIO.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 11, 1916.

Application led December 3, `1913. Serial No. 804,392.

vention is to provide a construction of machine having a body and wings of novel form or contour whereby wings of greater flotation elllciency are provided and whereby the body is adapted to serve also as a lifting surface cooperating with the wings to give increased lifting capacity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flying' machine of the character defined in which the body and wings are provided with reaction surfaces of such form as to secure, in addition to the primary lifting impulse resulting from the reaction 'of the air, a secondary lifting impulse by which the lifting pressure of the air is increased, such seconda ry lifting impulse servingv also to give a forward impulse to the machine by which its speed of travel is increased, the lifting` impulses being further so relatively disposed as to provide two cento resist longitudinal tilting motion of themachine'on its transverse aXis, whereby inherent stability is obtained.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flying machine of the character defined in which the wings and tail are demountable in a` ready and convenient manner, s`o"that the machine may be easily. stored or transported and equipped for service, and in which provision is also made for removing or giving access tothe controlling and steering gearing, whereby the elements thereof may vbe readily and easily cleaned',

as occasion requires.

A still further object of the inventionis to provide a. flying machine of the character will,. to a large extent, possess inherent stabilizing properties, and in which steering and controlling devices of a construction and arrangement for ready and eliicient use are employed.

`With these and other objects in view, which will appear in the course of the subjoined description, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully body set forth and claimed', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which -Figure lis a top plan view of a flying machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a fragmentary plan view of one of the wings, portions being broken away to clearly show thev construction of the posterior feathered edge;' Fig. 3 is av detail vertical taken on the line 83 Ain transverse section a central vertical longi- Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is tudinal section through the machine; Fig. 5

is a. vertical transverse section through the andinner ends of the wings of the machine on a line coincident with the axes of t-he wings Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the' body with the adjacent wing removed, and showing the elements of the cooperating wing adjusting mechanism `on the machine body; Fig. 7 is an inner face view of the coupling head or member forming part of the adjusting gearing on the body; Fig. 8 is an 'outer'face view of the same; Figs. 9 and 10 are detail sectional views on the lines 9-9 and 10.-l0 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is la detail section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 6; Fig. 12 is an inner end view of one of the wings; Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional views takensubstantially lon the lines 13.*13 .and lellt of Fig. 12; Figs. 15 and 1G are detail views of the coupling members for demountably connecting the detachable tail piece with the body; Fig. 1.7 is a detail view showing the arrangement of parts of the steering and controlling gear for adjusting the wings and the tail piece; Fig. 18 is a front elevation of one of the wings;- and Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are views showing the fore and aft contour of the wing at different points in the length thereof,as` indicated respectively by the lines` constructed to provide a compartment or cockpit 4, ,inclosing the aviators or pilots seat ,5 and the operating elements of the steering and controlling gearing, as hereinafter fully described. In practice, the body may be provided with any suitable type of launching and alighting gear, and is dellO signed to have a standing and flying attitude of substantially the same angle, about eight degrees.

The supporting, steering and stabilizing surfaces of the machine consist ofthe right and left hand wings 6 and 7' and the tail piece S. The wings 6 and 7 in addition to serving as the main supporting surfaces, are adjustable simultaneously in the same or opposite directions at will to vary their angle of incidence, as well as to act as steering elements for horizontally steering and banking the machine and as stabilizing devices, to maintain lateral stability, thus obviating the use of warping wing tips, ailerons or other auxiliary steering and balancing devices, whilethe tail piece 8 not only serves as an auxiliary steeringand balancing devices, but also as an elevator or horizontal rudder to steer the machine vertically and maintain its longitudinal balance. Each wing is preferably of birds wing shape and is composed of a suitable frame work covered with fabric oi other preferred material. rIhe formation of the wing is such that its normal means center of pressure lies at a point in advance of its longitudinal center and coincides with the vertical plane indicated by line A-A, Fig. 4, of the transverse axis of the machine, the upper or rarefaction surface of the wing being convexly curved between its lead and trail edges, while the lower or reaction sur- ,face of the wind has a compoundfore and aft curvature, being concavely curved at a point in advance of its mean center of pressure, as shown at 9, and similarly curved in rear of its mean center of pressure, as shown at 10, the proximate portions of the surfaces 9 and 1Q intersecting each other at a point in line with the center of gravity of the wing. it which point the wing is of maximum depth, producing a convex rib or bulged portion 11. By this construction the air striking the surface 9 and impelled down in the form of a tumbling mass, reacts against the surfaces 9`and 11 to give the usual lifting impulses, and then on its rearward' travel forms a reverse eddy which produces a partial vacuum in line with the surface 10, which the air rushes to fill, thus securing a secondary reaction and lifting impulse against the surface 10, which impulse against such inclined surface also act's to give a forward push or impetus to the wing, whereby increased lifting capacity and speed are obtained. From a point about midway of its length, the body of the wing tapers longitudinally to a point at its 'outer extremity or tip, while the reaction and rarefaction surfaces of the wing relatively ineline and converge throughout th'e length of the wing toward the tip, by which the depth or thickness of the wing, as well as the depth j or thickness of the bulged portion 11, gradually and progressively decreases from the Lier/,eva

butt to the tip of the wing. As a result, the camber and angle of incidence of portions ofthe wing vary progressively throughout the length of the wing, whereby counteract ing pressures are produced tending to resist tilting of the wing or of the machine asa whole on either its longitudinal or transverse axis ,l thus giving a high degree of in- "herent stability against loss of equilibrium when the machine is in flight. The posterior portion 12 of each wing from the rear edge of the surface 10 to the trail edge'of the wing is reduced or attenuated to secure in creased flexibility, and such portion ofthe wing is feathered or separated by divisions S0 into a longitudinal row of angularly disposed overlapping vanes or flaps 13, the outer edge of each flap or vane being dis posed so as to slightly overlie the inner edge/ of the adjacent flap or vane. The extreme 855 longitudinal edges 14- and 15 of the respective flaps or vanes are free for a yielding action in a vertical plane, the ribs of the frame work being of such relative thickness as to render the edge 14 of each flap or vane 90 somewhat stiff or rigid, while the other edge 15 thereof, which underlies the stiffened edge 14 of the next adjacent vane, is of greater flexibility. Air ventsor passages are thus produced between the adjacent edges of the flaps or vanes which, under nor mal conditions or when the `Wings are subjected on their reaction and rarefaction surfaces to ordinary pressures, are closed to cause the air to pass completely across the wing. Them however, an excess air pres-4 sure from above strikes the vanes or flaps of the feathered posterior portion of either' wing, the flexible edges 15 of the flaps or vanes are forced down, as indicated in flexible front portion 16 and a feathered rear portion 17 consisting of a central longitu- 130 dlnal flap or vane 18 and a series of side yflaps or vanes 19 and 20, the central flap being rigid, while the side flaps 19 and 20 have outer rigid edges and inner flexible edges, presenting vanes which control intervening air escape passages to relieve excess air pressure upon the upper surface of the tail piece, while inclining on opposite sides of the tail piece in reverse directions t so as to steady'the tail piece when in flight, 130

v ing .and controlling actions. The mode of and tending to maintain travel in a straight line. For the purposeiof further increasing the lifting power and stability of the machine, I provide the bottom of the body l with concaved reaction surfaces 2l and '22 and an intervening convexed or bulged por! tion 23, performing the same4 functions as the parts 9, l0 and 1l of the wings and adapting the body to also serve as an etlicient lifting and sustaining element. capable of supporting a portion of its own weight.

The surface 22 leadsback to the tail piece 8, which operates as a part of the lifting sur` performing with respect to posterior portion l2 of each wing.

Thel wings and tail piece are pivotally mounted to tilt vertically on horizontal transverse axes, for steering and balancing operations, and are also demountably connected with the 'body l sol that the parts of the machine may be readily and conveniently 25"' assembled and disassembled for greater advantage in storing and transporting the ma chine and setting it up for use.V Associated with the pivotal supports of the wings and tail piece are devices which provide for the adjustment of said parts and for their steermounting the wings andtail piece and gearing for adjusting the same are preferably, but not necessarily, of the construction and arrangement herein disclosed, which I will now proceed to describe.

Secured to the thickened'portion of the inner end of each wing isa coupling member member with apertured ears 28, which over or head 24 secured thereto by suitable fas-4 tening devices 25 and provided vwith a ldove tailed guideway formed by spaced parallel guide ribs 26 and a forward cross rib or abutment 27, closing the guideway at the front, the said guideway beingopen at the rear. F or additional security in vfastening the member 24 to the wing I provide said lap the top and bottom surfaces of the-wing and Whose apertures register with the passage 29 in the wing. rEhe said coupling head or member 24 is adapted for Vcoupling engagement with a coupling member 30 mounted on'the body, said member 30 comprising a circular plate or disk provided on its outer face with do've tailed guide 4grooves 3l to receive and interlock with the ribs 2G and an undercut abutment shoulder 32 to engage the dove tailed cross piece' 27, wherebythe coupling heads areheld from endwise displacement in one direction when united but maybe disconnected by a relative endivise movement in the opposite direction. The outer face of the head 30 is also provided with a pair of apertured ears 33 adapted to extend Yover the ears Q8 of the i and at their inner ends in the head against relative movement and fas-V ten the wing securely in position. The head 30 is provided with a central bearing aper ture 35 and is channeled and formed upon its inner face with a mutilated internal gear 36. As clearly shown in F ig. 5, the coupling head 30 of each wing support is rotatab'ly mounted in the side of the body l, said head being provided for .this purpose with a peripheral bearing flange 37 which is mounted tov turn in a bearing raceway formed between an outer retaining ring -or plate 3 8 and an inner bearing plate or spider 39, the respective parts 38 and 3,9` being provided with apertured portions or ears receiving the threaded ends of cross rods Sor bolts 40. The opposite ends of such rods or bolts pass through the ears of both sets of` plates at the opposite sides. of the body and also through perforations 1n inner stationary retaining rings 4l suitably fastened body, whereby the sets of plates are detachably when applied lirmlyfastened to the body andv rods. The construction is thus such that upon the removal. of outer clamping -to thesidesof the retaining rings or nuts 4l the retaining 'plates 38 and 39 will p verse shaft adjustable simultaneously in the same or opposite directions.

The shafts 44 are journaled at their outer ends in bearing openings 45 in the inner retaining plates 39 stationary bearing plates 4G forming a yoke supported by certain of the rods 40. F eathered upon the outer end of each shaft 4 4 between the head 30 and retaining plate or member 39 is a gear 47vmeshing with the pinion 43, which is adapted to be carried-around with the gear 44"as well asv to be rotated independently thereof by the gear 47 on its own axis. The teethof the mutilated gear 44 mesh with a transmission gear or pinion 48 Vfixed or feathered to-a second transverse shaft 49 journaled at its ends in open bearing slots 50 formed in ears or extensions 51 from the retaining plates or `members 39, each of which is provided with a slot 452 through which the gear 48 projects, vthe shaft being held seated Within each bearing slot by a detachable keeper plate 53, upon the removal of which the shaft and. gear may be withdrawn from the slots ytol,parrait of the disassemblage of the'parts.1"

It will be understood fromhthe: foregoing secured in position andi a gear pinion d ing the fastening that each wing is detachably secured in position and may be removed by simply detachpin 34, and it will also be evident that by disconnecting the outer clamp-ing nuts 41 from the rods 40, the adjusting gearing associated with the clamp.- ing heads forming the wing support may be together removed from the body, leaving the rods 40 in position and supported by the stationary rings 41, it being understood that upon removing the nuts 4l the coupling member 30, inner retaining plate 31 and the gears 44 and 47 may be withdrawn, by simply sliding them off the end of the shaft 44, to which the gear 47 is feathered, so that the aforesaid parts of the wing supporting and adjusting devices may be easily reached or detached for cleaning, oiling, repairing or renewal, as occasion may require, leaving the rods 40 and shafts 44 in position. It

should be stated that as the shaft 49 is held Yhold the-nieinbers normally the plates 53, and the gears 48 from with drawal, it is necessary, if it should be des'ired to also remove the plates 39, to first detach the plates 53 and then slip the shaft .49 out of its bearing slots 50, whereupon the gears 48 will be withdrawn from the slots 52, leaving the plates 39 free for withdrawal.

The inner ends of the shafts 44 are provided withbeveled gears 54 which mesh with a gear 55 on an operating shaft 56 journaled upon the yoke 46 and provided with a hand wheel 57, by which it -may be manipulated. When the hand wheel is turned in one direction or the other it will in position by i be evident that the shafts 44 will be simul-l taiieously turned in opposite directions, and that the gears 47 will be rotated and will rotate the pinions 43 on their axes, without turning the gears 44, to communicate motion to the internal gears 3G of the respective coupling heads 30, whereby the wings will be simultaneously tilted in opposite directions to different angular positions, thus enabling the wings to be employed for steering the machine to the right or left, to bank the machine in making turns to a proper degree and to maintain the lateral balance or equilibrium of the machine. An operating lever 58 is fixed to the shaft 49 and is movable in a fore and aft direction to correspondingly adjust said shaft, whereby the gears 4S may be turned to communicate mo tion to the floating gears- 44, which gears will act through the pinions 43 to transmit motion to the mutilated gears 36, whereby the coupling heads ,30 may be turned to simultaneously adjust both wings in the same direction either upward or downward to vary their angle of incidence and lifting effect or to enable them to be employed alone orin conjunction with the tail piece to steer the machine vertically or to maintain longitudinal stability. In this operation, it will be understood, the pinions43 have a planetary action around the gears 47, in which they simply traverse said gears without turning them. Another lever 59 is loosely mountedon the shaft 49 and to this lever, 70

above and below the shaft, are connected the forward ends of controlling cables 60 and 6l, which pass rearwardly over suitable guides tothe tail end of the body, where their opposite ends are secured to crank arms 7 5 62 projecting from a transverse shaft 63, i

wherebythe tail piece S is adjusted, ashereinafter described. The levers 58 and 59 are provided with spriiig-actuated dogs or pawls 64 and 65 to respectively engage racks 8O 66 and 67 suitably supported by the yoke or adjacent rods 40, wherebythe levers may be conveniently locked in adjusted position and released for manipulation when desired.

The tail piece 8 has secured thereto a cou- S5 project over upon the head 16 of the tail 90 piece and whose openings .register with a passage 7l in the tail piece. The undercut inner edges of the ribs 69 are adapted to engage the underciitouter edges of ribs 72,

formed upon a head orcoupling member 7 3 pivotally mounted upon the rear' end ofl the body to turn verticallyupon a horizontal transverse pin or axis 74. The ribs 69 and 72 are formed for a wedging .interlocking engagement, and the coupling head or member 73 is provided with apertured ears 75 adapted to lap over upon the tail piece and overlie the eais 70, so that the pin or bolt 75 may be passed through the registering openings in the ears and the passage 71 to 105 hold the. tail piece against displacement, while permitting of its ready removal when occasion requires. The head or member 73 carries a gear segment 76 meshing with a pinion 77 on the shaft 63, so that by the 110 adjustments of the lever. 59 the tail piece` may be elevated or depressed to any desired extent within its range ofmovement.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved flying machine will be readily understood, and it'will be seen that the invention provides a flying machine of the aeroplane type which possesses maximum lifting capacity,

a high degree of inherent stability, a wide range of balancing and steering control without the kuse of auxiliary balancing and lsteering devices, which provides wing surfaces having a novel wind shedding action,

and which embodies simple and effective means providing for the ready and convenient demounting of the wings and gearing and for the adjustment of the Wings and tail to serve the described functions, the advantages of Which Will be manifest.

It Will, of course, be understood that the essential features of the invention may be embodied in monoplanes, biplanes or multi: planes.

lHaving thus described my invention,`I claim:

l. A flying machine including a body of streamline form having an upper convex rarefaction surface and a lower compoundly curved reaction surface, a lvertically adj ustable tail piece at the rearendof said body,

said tail piece forming a continuation of the reaction surface, said reaction surface of the body including a bulged breast portion arranged substantially in line with the centers of gravity and pressure of the machine and dividing said reaction surface into ante# rior and posterior lifting portions, and Wings mounted upon the body and having similarly shaped rarefaction and reaction surfaces.

2. A ying machine including a body of stream lineform having an upper convex rarefaction surfaceand a lower compoundly 4curvedreaction surface, a vertically adjustable tail piece at the rear end of said body, said tail piece forming a continuation of the reaction surface., said body having a bulged breast portion arranged substantially .inline with the centers .of gravity and pressure of the machine and dividing said reaction surface into anterior and posterior lifting portions, Wings mounted upon the body and provided With similarly shaped rarefaction and reaction surfaces, and means for tilting said Wings vertically upon horizontal transverse aXes to vary the angle of incidence of said surfaces.

3. A liying machine including a body having an upper convex rarefaction surface and a compoundly formed bottom forming front and rear lifting surfaces, and wings carried by the body and provided with Similarly shapedrarefaction and reaction surfaces, said lWings being mounted to tilt upon horizontal transverse axes coincidingwith the line of division between the front and rear lifting surfaces, the lifting surfaces of the body and Wings being arranged, respectively, in front and rear of the centers of gravity and pressure of 'the machine.

4. ln a flying machine, a supporting surn face comprisingl Wing of birdlilre contour having an upper conveXly curved rarefaction surface, and a lower compoundly reaction surface, said Wing being "ed npc its reaction side ivith'a porti i'enderine it of ina-immuni coincide centers t bre in front and rear lifting portions, each havinjg a lifting curvature.

5. In a flying machine, a supporting surface comprising a wing of birdlike contour and having an upper conveXly curved rarefactionl surface and a lower compoundly curved reaction surface, said wing being provided upon its reaction side with a bulged breast portion render-ing it of maXimum depth at a point substantially coincident with its centers of gravity and pressure, said breast portion separating the reaction'surface into front and rear lifting surfaces, each having a lifting curvature, the tailvportion of said Wing forming the extremity ofthe rear lifting surface being provided With iaps or vanes arranged in lapping. relation and forming passages for the escape of air under excess pressure.

6. In a flying machine, a supporting surface comprising a wing of birdlike contour and having an upper conveXly curved rarefaction surface and a lower compoundly curved reaction surface, saidv reaction surface-,beingformed with a bulged breast portion rendering the Wing of maximum depth substantially at a point coincident with itscenters of gravity and pressure, said breast portion separating the reaction surface into front and rear lifting portions, each having a lifting curvature, said Wing being of gradually decreasing depth-in the plane of the breast portion from butt to tip thereof, and y having its trailing edge forming a continuation or vanes arranged in lapping relation and forming passages for the escape of air under excess pressure.

7. A iying machine including a body, a tail rudder carried thereby, said body and rudder being formed to provide front and rear lifting surfaces-arranged respectively anteriorly and posteriorlv of the transverse axis of the body, and wings upon the ,body having correspondingly formed reaction portions forming lifting surfaces in front and rear of the nian lcenterof pressure thereof.

8. ln a flying machine, a supporting surface comprising a wing of substantially bird Wing contour, said wing having a convex rarefaction surface and a compoundly curved reaction surface, said reaction sur.

face being l'crmed to provide front and rear lifting surfaces, and an intervening bulged or breast portion, thc said bulged or breast line, a supporting sur ig of ibstantiallv tion surface forming front and rear lifting portions intersecting a bulged breast portion disposed in advance of the longitudinalcenter of the Wing, the posterior portion of the Wing being provided with a longitudinal series of over and'underlapping flaps for Wind shedding action.

10. In a flying machine, a body, a cou* vpling member 'movably mounted on the body and having dovetailed grooves, a supporting surface, a coupling member on the supporting surface having dovetail'ed ribs to slidably engage and interlock With the grooves of the-first named coupling member,

provided with co-actiiig coupling members,`

gearing associated with the coupling members for adjusting the Wings, means for operating said gearing to adjust the Wings simultaneously in the same direction, and means for` operating the gearing for adjusting the wings simultaneously in opposite directions.

12. In a flying machine, a body, demountable wings at the opposite sides of the body, deinountable coupling means carrying said wings, said coupling means being rotatably mounted upon the body, control shafts, gearing operated by said shafts for simultaneously adjusting the Wings in the same direction, and gearing formed in part by the first named gearing for simultaneously adjusting the Wings in opposite directions.

13. In a flying machine, a body, lWings journaled upon the opposite sides of the body and provided With gears, control shafts provided With gears, gears loosely mounted on the 'control shafts and provided With pinions meshing with gears thereon and with said pinionson the Wings, means for simultaneously adjusting the control shafts in op- `posite directions, and means for simultaneously turning the loose gears in the same direction independently of the first named means. v

14. A connector between an aeroplane body and Wing comprising a ribbed plate upon the inner end of the Wing, a second plate having grooves slidably receiving the ribs of the first plate, and a bolt passing through said wing in a transverse direction and detachably securing both plates to the wing.

15. A connector between an aeroplane body and Wing comprising a ribbedplate upon the inner end of the Wing, a second 'plate having grooves slidably receiving the ribs of the first plate, a bolt passingtlirough said Wing in a transverse direction and detachably securing both plates to the Wing, a segmental toothed ring secured to said second plate, and means coperating with said'ring for giving oscillating movements to the Wing.

16. A connector between an aeroplane body and Wing comprising`a ribbed plate upon the inner end of the Wing, a second plate having grooves slidably receiving the ribs of the first plate, a bolt passing through said Wing in a transverse direction and detachably securing both plates to the Wing,

a segmental .toothed ring secured to Saidi coperating with said rings for giving oscillating movements to the said Wings.

18. In an aeroplane, a body, a pair of Wings, a pair of ribbed plates carried by the inner extremities of the Wings, a second pair of plateshaving grooves slidably receiving the ribs of the first' plates, segmental toothed rings carried by said second plates, and rotatable means passing through the body and cooperating with said rings for giving simultaneous arcuate movements 'to said Wings in. the same direction or opposite directions.

19. In an aeroplane, a'body, a pair of Wings, a pair of ribbed plates carried by the inner extremities of the Wings, a second pair of vplates having grooves slidably receiving the ribs of the first plates, segmental toothed rings carried by said second plates, and rotatable means passing through the body and cooperating with said rings for lsimultaneouslygiving arcuate movements to said Wings in opposite directions.

20. In an aeroplane, a body, a pair of Wings, a pair of ribbed plates carried by the inner extremities of the Wings, a second pair of plates having grooves slidably receiving the ribs of the first plates, segmental toothed' rings carried by said second plates, rotatable means passing through the body and coperating with said rings for vsimultaneously giving arcuate movements to said Wings in opposite directions, and means cooperating With a portion vof the last means for giving simultaneous arcuate movements to said Wings in the same direction.

21. In an aeroplane, a body, a pair of wings, a pair of ribbed plates carried by the inner extremities of the Wings, a second pair of plates having grooves slidably receiving I ting one side of said second plate, anda inner extremity of said'wing, a second plate provided With grooves slidably receivingv the ribs of the first plate, an annulus abut-` spiderA abutting the opposite side of the second plate, and secured to said annulus, said spider and annulus being supported lby Said body. 4 e

23. In combination, an aeroplane body, a Wing therefor, a ribbedplate carried by the provided With grooves slidably receiving the ribs ofthe first plate, an annulus abutting one side of said second plate, a spider abutting the opposite side of the second plate and secured `to said annulus, and a retaining ring detachably secured to .the inner surface of the body and detachably supporti ing said annulus and spider.

24. In combination, an aeroplane body, a Wing therefor, a ribbed plate carried by the inner extremity of said Wing, a second plate provided with grooves slidably receiving the ribs of the rst plate, an annulus abutting one side of said second plate, a spider abutting the opposite sidesof the second plate, and secured to said annulus, a retaining ring embedded'in the inner surface of one side of the body, and supporting said annulus and spider, and bolts secured to said ring and engaging the opposite side of the body.

In combination, an aeroplane body, a Wing therefor, a ribbed plate carriedby the inner extremity vof said Wing, a second plate provided with grooves slidably receiving the ribs of the first plate, an annulus abutting one side of said second plate, va spiderabutting the opposite side of the second plate and secured to said annulus,' a retaining ring embedded in the inner surface of one,

side of the body and supporting said annulus and spider, bolts secured to said ring and engaging the opposite side of the body, a manually rotatable shaft mounted in said spider, a gear secured thereto, a second gear in mesh therewith, and a segmental toothed ring secured to said second plate and cooperating vvith said vsecond gear.

26. In combination, an aeroplane bodyra Wing therefor, a plate secured to one extremity thereof, a second plate detachably secured to said first plate and the Wing, a spider abutting one side lof said second plate, an annulus secured to said spider and abutting the remaining side of said secondplate, a retaining ring detachably connect-4 ed to the body and supporting said annulus and spider, a segmental toothed ring secured to vsaidsecond plate, a shaft mounted in said spider, a gear secured thereto, a second gear in mesh With said first gear and said toothed ring, a mutilatedA gear supporting said seogeared to said Wing therefor, a" plate secured to one eX-K4 tremity thereof, a second plate detachably secured to said first plate andthe Wing, a

spider abutting one side of said second plate, an annulus secured to said spider 4and abutting the remaining side of said second plate, a retaining ring detachably connected to -the body and supporting said annulus.

and spider, a segmental toothed ring secured I.

to said second plate, a shaft mounted in said spider, a gear secured thereto, a second gear. in mesh With said first gear and said toothed ring, a mutilated gear supporting said sec- Aond gear, and a second shaft geared to said mutilated gear, said second shaft being re- CLYDE V. BACKUS.

Witnesses:

J. A. LAUTENsCrmAEGER, Jr., PAUL W. MALONE. 

